The Keys to Jericho (102 page)

Kat shrieks, “Jared!”

“What? I’m joking!”

From next to me, Rio says, “No, you’re not.”

I laugh. “You’re damn right I’m not. Out.”

Kat pulls on my arm. “We’re not consummating our marriage in the back of this limo.”

Brenda says, “Poor Jared.”

Kat sneers, “Poor Jared?”

“Come on, Katydid. He has that look in his eye already.” Brenda asks me, “Isn’t your wife a hot piece of ass?”

Dash laughs. “Merrick does have a hot ass.”

I shoot him a look and my dad shakes his head, saying, “Wow.”

“Damn, Mother.”

Turning to Kat, I say, “Yes, she is.”

Brenda says, “Look at your husband! He needs you to rip down those rented pants and perform your wifely duties in this car!”

Kat asks, “Is there something to gag her with? My veil, maybe?”

Brenda winks at Kat. “Kinky.”

I ask Kat, “Could we get to the part where you’re taking off my pants now?”

Brenda turns and says to the driver, “Hey, Clyde, the bride and groom are desperately horny. Could you please drive them around until they’re spent? We need to make them official.”

“Mother!”

I laugh, as do my groomsmen, even my dad. Kat insists, “We
are
official!”

Clyde says, “Sure thing! Just lower the window when you’re done.”

Kat bows her head. “Oh, my God. I can’t do that in here, while we’re being waited on to finish!”

I smirk. “I have no problem with that.”

Kat mutters, “Or shame.”

“Yeah. None of that, either.”

Glancing over at my sister, who has been quiet with Dash sitting next to her, I watch her gazing out the window. Nodding at my dad, he looks at her and slightly frowns.

The limo makes our stop and Brenda says, “Go ahead, you two. No need to make it super-fast, but we will need you soon. You still have pictures on the patio here to do before it rains, so watch the hair and makeup when you get it on.”

Leaning onto Kat, I slide my hand up her ribs and whisper, “I want to fuck my hot wife right now.”

She lightly pants, but shakes her head and whispers, “Not in here.”

I sigh, but didn’t expect her to cave. Everyone exits before us and when it’s our turn to make our appearance to the small crowd, I help her climb out and I say, “As soon as we get to the hotel then.”

“Hotel?”

“Yeah. I got us a room, baby. No interruptions. No spies. No one even knows where we’ll be, except for the limo driver.”

Her brown eyes light up. “Can we go there now?”

“Absolutely.” That was easy.

She frowns before glancing to the people gathered on the patio. “Let’s get this night over with.”

Following more pictures outside, especially the one inside a trellis together that makes Brenda bawl, we head inside to where we’re instantly announced.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Jared Beckett!”

The room erupts into applause and we’re accosted by guests, while the caterers set up dinner. For most of our rounds, Kat and I are separated, visiting people, and we’re not reunited until dinner is served and we’re seated at the long table at the end of the room. However, even then, people constantly approach to take our picture or ask us questions. It’s fucking annoying.

Off to the side, I notice a picture of a Kat’s grandmother on a small table with a candle burning next to it. That’s actually a nice touch. She’d be proud of her granddaughter’s perseverance, as I am.

Unexpectedly, my dad is given the microphone and he says, “As the best man, I want to say a few words about the groom, my son, Jared. We’ve had our ups and downs, but I can tell you that I’ve never been more proud of him than I am today. Jared and Kat met in high school and became friends, but now that I look back, I see Jared had fallen in love. I didn’t know that he had because I didn’t know about Kat at the time, but I wish that I had. They parted ways when he graduated, not speaking again until they met up recently by chance. This time around, they rediscovered each other and I, as well as a few others, were witnesses to them falling in love again. It was beautiful magic. They desperately tried to hide it, but it was so obvious. I’m glad they’ll never have to hide their love again, because it’s truly something incredible.”

He picks up his champagne glass and says, “So join me in toasting Jared and Kat on their marriage and for a lifetime of happiness. To Jared and Kat.”

While everyone says our names before taking a drink, I stand and hug him. “Damn it. I love you, Dad.”

Dad chuckles but I can hear his tears. “I love you, too, bud. Congratulations.”

He walks behind me to give Kat a kiss on the cheek and a hug, whispering something to her, which makes her smile and say something in return.

When dinner is over, the caterers work on cleaning up so we can have the dance floor. Kat has her mom help her take off her veil, and we’re again pulled apart by people who want our attention. We occasionally catch glimpses of each other and smile, but I’m growing tired of the endless schmoozing and answering the same questions with a fake smile.

Lange sees me as I’m walking out of the restroom. I say, “I’m not used to seeing you looking descent.”

“I know. These weddings.” He laughs. “Congratulations, groom! Marrying the boss’ sister.”

“He’s not
my
boss.”

“That’s right. Now
she
is.”

I roll my eyes. “Right.” That’s probably true. She does lead me around by my dick.

“I knew she liked you.”

I dubiously scoff, “You did not.”

“When she poisoned your coffee? Yep. That was love.”

“I don’t want to know what she would’ve done if she hated me.”

“She wouldn’t have brought you coffee.”

I laugh. “I guess not.”

“It’s the little things, my friend. Keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss them.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

Laughing, he grabs my shoulder as he passes me. Seeing my sister talking to someone who isn’t Dash, I head over to her, feeling like I just finished my karaoke performance, trying not to get stopped by anyone.

Putting my arm around her, she looks up and smiles. “Hey, married man.”

“Hey.”

Hadley grabs onto the guy she’s talking to and says, “Jared, this is my friend Greg Rodwell. Dad invited him here without me knowing. Greg works with me. Everyone calls him
Rod
, though. Rod, this is my brother Jared, the groom.” Oh. Finn Wilder’s arch nemesis. Extremely interesting.

Laughing, he says, “I guessed that, Hadders.” Offering his hand, he smiles. “Congratulations, Jared.”

Shaking his hand, I notice his Snoopy tie. “Thanks. So it’s
Rod
?”

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah. Everyone does call me that, even the deaf and blind butcher who lives near me does now.”

Hadley giggles. “What the hell?”

Rod shrugs. “He retired after his last incident.”

I hesitantly ask, “Lose a finger?”

“No. When a lady asked to see his sausage, well, he showed her.” Hadley smacks his arm and he laughs. “What? True story! He’s out on bail, but enjoying retirement.”

Hadley tells me, “I told you Rod is crazy.”

Turning to Hadley, he asks, “You said that about me? Now I have to defend myself!”

I say, “No.
You’re
not the one who needs an explanation.”

Hadley glares at me, but Rod says, “Yeah. I’m looking for one, too.”

Before Hadley can argue, Liberty says something to her, stealing her attention.

Nodding to my sister, I say to Rod, “She looks like a fucking zombie.”

“I know. She makes Skeletor look like The Pillsbury Doughboy.”

“You think she’s refusing to eat? Throwing it up?”

“Since she’s still off work, I go to her apartment to eat lunch with her every day. She eats a yogurt, so I’m not sure. I offer her more food, but she won’t eat it.” Rod runs a hand through his dark, wavy hair and glances at my sister, who’s still talking to Liberty. “She’s wasting away, but apparently, he doesn’t give a shit.”

“I blame him for every goddamned thing. She won’t tell me where he’s at right now.”

“Oh. He’s in Baltimore.”

I clamp my teeth together and seethe, “What? He’s not even far from here?”

“Yep. Some huge gig he couldn’t pass up.”

I suck in a breath between my teeth. “He couldn’t give
that
up, but he risked my sister?”

“Nope. Wouldn’t surprise me if he had a whore there.”

I glare at my sister’s back. “I knew he’d screw her over.”

Rod says, “Don’t even get me started on that shit.”

I sigh. “Yeah. That’s dangerous territory for me.” I shake my head and look at Hadley again. “I don’t like her being alone.”

“I’m with her. I’ve been sleeping on her couch.”

“You have?”

He shrugs. “In case she needs anything.”

“Well, she’ll have me. I’ll be down there after we get back from our honeymoon. You won’t have to watch her.”

“I want to. She’s my best friend.” I’m sure that’s an issue.

“I need to be there for her. Looks like Finn and I will be having another chat soon.”

“Good luck. He’s denser than a lead coffin.”

“Our last chat was a fucking waste of time.”

“You’ve talked to him? I talked to him a few weeks ago. I thought he actually listened to me. That ass clown fed me a bunch of shit.”

“Thanksgiving was the last time I talked to him. Now, he needs a swift kick in the balls.”

“Fuck. Pick a number.”

I nod. “Oh, I’m first in line.”

“Not if I get to him first.”

“I’m closer. I can head over there before I catch my flight.”

“She’d kill you.”

“Who would?” Hadley asks.

I shrug. “Kat when she finds out our honeymoon is in Siberia.”

“As she should, little brother.”

The DJ announces it’s time to cut the cake, so I leave them to actually be with my new bride for a few minutes, but as usual, we’re inundated with pictures and attention. We’re urged to smash the cake into each other’s face, but the most I do is smear icing on her nose and lips before kissing her.

Soon after, we’re told it’s time for our first dance. Taking her hand, we dance to the song we chose as ours.

She smiles and says, “Hi, husband.”

“Hi, wife.”

“Are you having a good time?”

“Not the kind I want to be having with you.”

“I’m sorry about last night.”

I sigh and hold her closer. “Baby, I swear to God. I knew that it was you. You can trust me, Kit Kat. I would
never
cheat on you. Drunk or sober.”

She sucks on her bottom lip before replying, “I know that. It was just…jitters. I was panicking, afraid that you changed your mind and wanted to stay single.”

“Really? How’d that work out? Did I change my mind? I just vowed to you my body, heart, and soul. I intend to keep that promise. I’m yours.
Only
yours.”

“I’m yours.” She tips my head, resting our foreheads together. “This song is so us.”

I laugh. “In case you missed it when this song played in my car, I was trying to tell you I was in love with you.”

“You were?”

“Yeah. If you only had listened to the lyrics. Damn mouse song.”

Her brown eyes glow as she giggles. “I guess Kat finally caught her mouse.”

I scoff, “I’m no fucking mouse.”

“I love how your nose just twitched like a mouse’s does.”

“You’re killing me.”

Kat whispers, “I really want to make out with you, but everyone is watching our every move.”

“They’re looking at how fucking gorgeous you are. I wasn’t kidding in the limo.”

“I know you weren’t.”

“I just want to leave. This is all nice, but I’m done with the pictures, the talking to people, and plastering so many smiles on my damn face.”

“We’ll be alone soon, but we might be too tired.”

“Is that a joke?”

Dash yells, “Stop talking and kiss your wife already, Jericho!”

I peer over at him and smirk, before I dive in, kissing Kat. Among the shouting, I feel her humming against my mouth and I smile.

When the song ends, we have to dance other bullshit dances, but I do pull my grandmother onto the dance floor for the mother/son dance, to her surprise; however, she rolls her teary eyes and says, “You’re in my will already. Knock it off.”

“Just securing my spot.”

We then had to do the bouquet and garter thing, which was intrusive, lifting up her dress in front of everyone, so I yanked the thing off, tossed it, and was done with it. Not sexy at all.